Chamber containing an internal agitator system



Oct. 3, 1967 R BovAGNE 3,345,043

CHAMBER GONTAINING AN ImERNALy AGITATOR SYSTEM Filed March l?, 1966FIG.2

United States Patent O 3,345,043 CHAMBER CONTAINING AN INTERNAL AGITATORSYSTEM Ren Bovagne, Chalon-sur-Saone, France, assignor to Socie'te desForges et Ateliers du Creusot, Paris, France,

a company of France Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 535,239 Claimspriority, application France, Mar. 31, 1965,

z claims. (ci. 259-102) The invention relates to a chamber containing aninternal agitator system. Apparatus, more particularly autoclaves, arealready known, which consist of a double jacket, the tank of whichwithstands an internal pressure and contains a liquid agitated by anagitator system of which the agitating element, such as a screw, issituated at the bottom part of the tank and is controlled from the toppart via a shaft extending through the top wall of the chamber. Suchchambers containing an agitator system have various disadvantages. Firstof all, since the agitating screw is driven from the top, the controlshaft must be of a relatively considerable length, particularly in thecase of large capacity tanks. Also, it is not an easy task to controlthe agitation intensity at every point of the chamber.

The invention relates to a chamber containing an internal agitatingsystem without the above disadvantages, agitation being controllable soas to be adjustable throughout the chamber, and the agitator systembeing driven easily without the use of large and strong metal frames formovement transmission systems.

To this end, according to the invention, the agitation system isdisposed in the bottom of the chamber and comprises at least oneagitating unit whose drive shaft is borne by a bearing iixed in a boxpivotable with respect to the bottom of the chamber, the bearing axisforming an angle other than zero with the box pivot axis.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference toone specific embodiment which is given by way of example and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of the bottom part of an autoclaveprovided with two agitation units.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the system for locking the position ofthe bearing box for the drive shaft for one of the agitators.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a cylindrical autoclave having a curved bottom, butthe invention can be applied to any other form of chamber, for example aspherical chamber.

The autoclave comprises a wall 1 resistant to the internal pressure, andan outer jacket 2. A hot uid can be supplied between the wall 1 and thejacket 2 to initiate a reaction inside the autoclave, and then a coldfluid can be supplied to eliminate the reaction heat.

According to the invention the chamber contains agitating units disposedin the base. Each unit consists of blades 3 secured to a shaft 4. Theshaft rotates in a bearing 5 borne by a box 6. The latter is pivotablein a collar 7 connected to the tank base, the box bearing against thecollar by circular shoulders 8.

The locking of the box in position is shown in detail 3,345,043 PatentedOct. 3, 1967 ICC in FIGURE 2. A ring 9 encloses the box 6 and can bearagainst an annular key 10 connected to the box. In places thescrewthreaded part of bolts 11 bearing against the collar 7 pass throughthe ring 9. When the bolts are screwed into or unscrewed from the ring9, the latter will bear against or move away from the circular key 10because the bolts 11 bear against the collar 7. When the bolts 11 arescrewed, the collar 7 is applied against the shoulder 8 of the box 6thus locking the latter. Reverse operation enables the box 6 to bereleased and pivoted.

With reference to FIGURE 1, in connection with the agitation unit shownon the right, the axis of the shaft 4 -forms an angle other than zerowith the axis of the box 6. Thus the orientation of the shaft 4 can bevaried by rotation of the box 6, so that the agitation of the bath canbe controlled. This effect is increased with an increasing number ofagitation units.

In case of the agitation unit shown on the left in FIGURE 1, the planeof the axes of the box 6 and of the shaft 4 is perpendicular to thedrawing plane lBy means of the invention it is therefore possible tocontrol the intensity of agitation by adjustment of the speed of theshaft, its direction of rotation and the inclination of the axis 4 ofthe blades 3i. The shafts 4 are driven from the space beneath the tank,either directly by motors or through the agency of reduction gears 12, aCardan transmission 13 and 14 and a telescopic shaft 15, 16. The Cardanjoints and the telescopic shaft rotate the agitators irrespective of theadjustment of the inclination of the shafts 4.

Of course the invention is not limited to the abovedescribed embodimentdetails which can be modified without departing from the scope of theinvention.

The autoclave shown in FIGURE 1 is supported by legs 17 resting on theground, and similarly a reduction gear 12 is shown as resting on theground, although this arrangement can be modified, but it does have veryappreciable advantages because then all the loads are transmitted to theground without the need for a large framework to withstand them.

I claim:

1. An autoclave chamber and an internal agitator system at the bottom ofthe chamber comprising at least one agitation unit, a drive shaft forsaid unit, a bearing for said drive shaft and a box pivotable in andmounting said bearing through the bottom of the chamber with respect tothe botom of the chamber, the bearing axis forming an angle other thanzero with the pivot axis of the box.

2. A chamber according to claim 1, including a driving element rotatingsaid drive shaft and a telescopic Cardan joint between said element andsaid drive shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,953 7/1919 Johnson 259-1061,438,281y 12/ 1922 Westerman 259-102 2,962,268 11/ 1960 Soltermann259-102 2,996,363 8/ 1961 Ruyak 259-108 X ROBERT W. JENKINS, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN AUTOCLAVE CHAMBER AND AN INTERNAL AGITATOR SYSTEM AT THE BOTTOM OFTHE CHAMBER COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE AGITATION UNIT, A DRIVE SHAFT FORSAID UNIT, A BEARING FOR SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND A BOX PIVOTABLE IN ANDMOUNTING SAID BEARING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAMBER WITH RESPECT TOTHE BOTTOM OF THE CHAMBER, THE BEARING AXIS FORMING AN ANGLE OTHER THANZERO WITH THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE BOX.